Turn your attention towards the present moment.
A simple opening of your awareness to the here and now.
Just notice what is the current experience.
There really is no next moment.
The future never actually begins,
And you can test this for yourself.
Keep your awareness in the here and now,
And just see if you can notice the precise moment that now becomes next.
We find that it simply doesn't happen.
It's only ever now.
There is no next moment.
So too,
There is no previous moment.
The present moment leaves no trace.
It is not stored anywhere,
And test this for yourself also.
Focus your awareness entirely into the here and now,
And see if you can pinpoint the exact moment that now becomes the past.
You will find that this simply never happens either.
There is no past.
So this present moment is not moving along a timeline.
You are not in a point on a calendar.
Reality is always now.
So to become fully present,
To find peace within this presence,
It is not a case of trying to ignore or push away the future or the past.
Instead,
It is to simply recognize there is no such thing as the future or the past.
They are a myth.
Allow yourself to really do this.
Just be in the here and now,
Secure,
Safe,
Comfortable.
Why spend any energy thinking about the future or the past?
Now that we have experienced for ourselves,
There really is no thing.
Just release yourself from the burden of this endless thinking.
What is the barrier between you and the present moment?
Is anything in the way?
Even if you find yourself lost in thoughts about the future and thoughts about the past,
This is still happening within the present.
You cannot leave the now.
If you feel some agitation,
Tension,
Restlessness,
Or discomfort in the present,
Just be aware of it.
Don't judge it.
Don't be frustrated by it.
Just notice.
Be honest with yourself.
If there is some resistance to the present,
This is okay.
Just notice that and stay present anyway.
Now,
Fully here,
Within this present moment,
Are there any problems?
If you were not to refer to the mind's imagination about the future and the past,
And were simply immersed in the reality of the here and now,
Do any problems remain?
Without any situations or circumstances,
Stories and narratives,
Do away with all of that and just be aware of reality.
If the mind fell silent within this present moment,
Is there really anything to worry about?
Is the now really so painful?
So unpleasant?
Or is everything just as it is?
Nothing to be done.
In a moment,
We will be leaving the formal aspect of this meditation.
But notice,
As we do so,
The mind wants to rush back in and pick up its usual stories and imagination about a future and a past.
See if it's possible to just keep the majority of your awareness within the present,
Even during daily activity.
And notice if this changes your sense of peace and well-being.
Thank you for doing this meditation with me today.
Take care,
Be well,
And stay present.
